One of two nannies at prime minister's residence to be let go as of July 1

Jennifer Stahn

Marylou Trayvilla, one of two women employed to take care of the Trudeau children, is seen at left as she joins prime minister-designate Justin Trudeau and family upon their arrival to Rideau Hall for the swearing-in ceremony in Ottawa on Wednesday, November 4, 2015. Come Canada Day, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's family will be down to one publicly funded nanny.A cabinet decision released Tuesday shows that Trayvilla, who has worked for the family since before Trudeau became prime minister, will be off the public payroll on July 1.

Image Credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

June 07, 2016 - 9:00 PM

OTTAWA - Come Canada Day, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's family will be down to one publicly funded nanny.

A cabinet decision released Tuesday shows that Marylou Trayvilla, who has worked for the family since before Trudeau became prime minister, will be off the public payroll on July 1.

The notice posted to the Privy Council Office website gives no reason for the dismissal. The Prime Minister's Office says the family will seek a replacement to watch after their three children, but won't be asking taxpayers to pick up the bill.

Spokesman Olivier Duchesneau said the Trudeaus plan to hire a caregiver and pay the salary out of their own pockets.

He says the status of the other nanny, Marian Pueyo, remains unchanged.

Trayvilla and Pueyo were hired as special assistants under the Official Residences Act to watch the Trudeau's children — Xavier, 8, Ella-Grace, 7, and two-year-old Hadrien — and provide other duties around the prime minister's official residence.

The duo were each paid between $15-$20 an hour during the day and $11-$13 at night, a fee nanny associations previously said reflects the average rate.

The hires prompted howls of outrage from the opposition, considering how aggressively Trudeau assailed the Conservatives for a universal child care benefit that helped to enrich already-wealthy families, his own included.

Trudeau's office insisted the two nannies didn't increase the budget for the prime minister's residence; supporters pointed to a similar arrangement when Brian Mulroney was prime minister with a young brood.

Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau even poked fun at the controversy during their appearance Saturday at the annual parliamentary press gallery dinner.

OPINION Editor, This is a busy time of year, but I find it’s also a time of reflection, particularly as January marks the end of my two-year term as Chair and my 10 years serving on the Board of Interior